Bed light



F. WALLEN BED LIGHT Filed April 1, 1959 ml Mm mm 2:4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES BED LIGHT Frank Wallen, Chicago, 111., assignor to Superior Sleeprite Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 1, 1939, Serial No. 265,475

6 Claims.

More particularly, the invention relates to a light adapted to be mounted on the head board of a bed for reading purposes, it being the general object of the invention to provide a new and improved light of this type.

Another object is to provide a light mounted on the back of the head board of a bed and behind an opening in the head board and having a part movable from a position closing the opening to a position permitting light to pass through the opening Another object is to provide a bed light having a tubular casing mounted on a vertical axis behind an opening in the head board and procasing being movable so that one or both of the slots therein are operable to pass light out through said opening.

Another object is to provide a new and improved bed light of simple construction which may be readily attached to the head board of a bed.

Other objects will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the head board of a bed with a preferred form of the invention installed thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing this form of the invention adjusted to throw light to the right and left so as to permit two persons to read thereby.

Fig. 3 is a section approximately along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section approximately along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section looking up approximately along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a similar section with the light ad justed to throw light only in one direction.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the head board of a bed showing another form of the invention installed thereon and adjusted to throw light forwardly therefrom.

Fig. 8 is a section approximately along line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a similar view with the light adjusted to close the openingin the head board.

While two forms of the invention are illustrated in the drawing and hereafter described in detail, it is not intended to limit the invention to the forms shown. It is contemplated that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the sprit and scope of the appended claims.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, the invention is shown associated with a head board In of a metal bed. This head board has an elongated vertically extending opening ll, ad-

vided with two light emitting slots, the tubular jacent the upper and lower ends of which brackets l2 and I3 are secured to the head board. These brackets are preferably spot-welded or otherwise secured to the rear surface of the head board so that horizontal portions l2 and I3 thereof extend rearwardly to support a tubu lar casing 14.

The casing I4 is arranged to be supported on the brackets 12 and 13 by means including upper and lower closures in a position as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 to 5 so that a substantial portion of the casing extends forwardly of the head board through the opening H.

A closure 15 for the lower end of the casing is convex downwardly and has a threaded aperture centrally thereof for receiving a screw device IB which is inserted upwardly through an aperture in the bracket portion [3. A closure H for the upper end of the casing is is convex upwardly and has a downwardly extending annular flange 11' removably fitted into the casing l4. A switch type lamp socket 2! has a screwthreaded upper end or stem 21 which extends through a round opening 22 (Fig. 4) in the bracket I2 and is fitted with a nut 21 for securing the socket to the closure. A rotatable switch operating member 23 projects outwardly from the socket and through an aperture 24 in the casing 14 so as to be operable from in front of the head board and convenient toa person in the bed. The member 23 is preferably screwthreaded into a part within the socket in a manner well known in the art so that it may be removed when the socket is being assembled in the casing. A tubular type electric lamp 25 is secured in the socket 20.

In the form just described, the casing M is provided with two vertically extending narrow slots 26 and 21 in the front portion of the casing, through which light passes from the lamp 25, and ventilating openings 28 in the rear portion of the casing. The casing may be pivoted on the brackets 12 and I3 by using the switch member 23 as a handle, the movement of the casing being limited by the engagement of the member 23 with the side edges of the opening 11 in the head board. When the casing is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, a single slot 21 is effective to pass light forwardly of the head board 10. When in the position shown in Figs. 2 to 5, both slots 25 and 21 are effective to pass light forwardly of the head board. In the position shown in Figs. '2 to 5, the light will be directed in divergent paths to permit two persons in the bed to read. When adjusted to the position of Figs. 1 and 6, the light is directed only toward the left (Fig. 1), and the right hand side of the bed is shielded.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9, a head board 30 of a metal bed is provided with an elongated to pivot the right hand end of the casing on the bracket I2. In this form of the invention, the casing 34 has a single horizontal slot 35 for passing light forwardly of the head board from a lamp 25. Here again the switch actuating member 23 serves as a handle for pivoting the casing from the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 to 'the position shown in Fig. 9. In the position of Figs. 7 and 8, light from the electric lamp 25 is directed in a horizontal band so as to enable a person in the bed to read. If used in a double bed and located centrally of the head board, the light would enable two persons in the bed to read. The slot 35 may be lowered to direct the light downwardly by pulling downwardly on the member 23, the friction of the casing against the supporting brackets being sufiicient to retain the casing in its adjusted position since the device is substantially balanced on its pivots.

The tubular casing is preferably finished in a color matching the head board. When this is done, the casing may be adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 9 so as to fill the opening 3|. No slots or other openings in the casing are then visible from the front of the head board and the device blends into the head board and is hardly noticeable.

An extension cord 4|] is provided to connect the light to a convenient wall socket M. In order to facilitate installation, the bracket portion I2 is provided with a slot I2 through which the cord 40 may pass in order to align the stem .ZI with the aperture 22 in the bracket. This is done before the other end of the casing is swung into position to receive the screw device I6.

For the purpose of replacing a lamp 25, the casing is demounted by first removing the screw device I6 and then detaching the upper end of the casing from the bracket I2. By removing the member 23, the closure Il may be withdrawn, with the lamp socket attached thereto, and the lamp replaced. These operations are then reversed in order to install the device again.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with the head board of a bed having an opening therein and a pair of spaced brackets extending rearwardly therefrom, a bed light comprising a tubular casing having two light emitting slots extending longitudinally thereof, a closure for one end of the casing adapted to be secured pivotally to one of said head board brackets, a closure for the other end of said casing pivotally supported on the other of said brackets so that a portion of the casing projects through said opening, a switch type lamp socket secured to one of said closures and extending inwardly therefrom, an actuating device for said socket extending outwardly through an aperture in the tubular casing to facilitate operating the switch in the socket and serving also as a handle for pivoting the casing, to change the position of the slots therein with respect to the opening in the head board.

2. The combination with the head board of a bed having an elongated upright opening therein, a bed light comprising a tubular casing having two light emitting slots extending longitudinally thereof, means for supporting the casing movably on said head board so that the portion of the casing with said slots may project through said opening, a switch type lamp socket secured tothe casing in position to support a lamp within the casing, an actuating device for said socket extending outwardly from the casing to facilitate operating the switch in the socket and serving also as a handle for adjusting the casing to place one slot or both slots therein in position to pass light through the opening in the head board.

3. The combination with the head board of a bed having an opening therein and a pair of spaced brackets extending rearwardly therefrom, a bed light comprising a tubular casing having two light emitting slots extending longitudinally thereof, means for supporting the casing pivotally on said head board brackets so that a portion of the casing projects through said opening, and a lamp socket mounted on the casing to support a lamp within said casing, said casing being rotatable to permit adjustment of the position of the slots therein with respect to the opening in the head board.

4. The combination with the head board of of a bed having an elongated upright opening therein, a bed light comprising a tubular casing having two light emitting slotsextending longitudinally thereof, means for supporting the casing pivotally on said head board so that the slotted portion of the casing may project through said opening, and a lamp socket secured to the casing in position to support a lamp in a position to throw light through said slots, said casing being rotatable to permit adjustment of the position of the slots therein with respect to the opening in the head board.

5. The combination with the head board of a bed having an opening therein and a bracket extending rearwardly therefrom, a bed light comprising a tubular casing having a light emitting slot extending longitudinally thereof, a closure for one end of the casing adapted to be secured pivotally to said head board bracket so that a portion of the casing projects through said opening, a switch type lamp socket secured to said closure to support a lamp within the casing, an actuating device for said socketextending outwardly through an aperture in the tubular casing to facilitate operating the switch in the socket and. serving also as a handle for pivoting the casing.

6. The combination with the head board of a bed having an opening therein and a pair of spaced brackets extending rearwardly there from, a bed light comprising a tubular casing having a light emitting slot extending longitudinally thereof, a closure for one end of the easing adapted to be secured pivotally to one of said head board brackets, a closure for the other end of said casing engaging the other of said brackets, a lamp socket secured to one of said closures for supporting a lamp within the casing, and means for pivoting the casing from a position wherein the slot therein coincides with the opening in the head board to a position wherein the slot is behind the head board and a portion of the casing closes the opening in the head board.

FRANK WALLEN. 

